Victor Credenza

[E-M-H]

This is the 2nd phonograph I acquired. In one weekend, I went from owning 0 phonographs to having 2, this and the Pathé. Collecting these wonderful machines is a natural extension of clock collecting. It's really been fun researching, learning, and hunting.

Before I even knew what an Orthophonic Victrola was, I saw this for sale on Craigslist for $75.00. It was an estate sale, in the basement, where it had probably spent the last 50 years. Let me tell you, it was something getting this thing up the stairs with a woefully small dolly.

Sometime during its internment there, it suffered some water damage to the lid. Other boo boos include a missing shelf/front piece, a soldered tone arm, a cracked reproducer, and then there's the now hinged speaker grill. All of the original screws are gone, and someone added some hinges. I plan on removing those and reaffixing the grille with screws....any idea what kind were used originally?

The above being noted, the sound is fantastic. I plan on restoring this as money and parts become available. I have a clock friend working on the lid and he's fabricating the missing shelf pieces. I'll eventually get a replacement tone arm and reproducer.

I also need to figure out how to fix the pneumatic pistons for the lid. Right now, they have no effect on the lid.

I also have a question about the wood pieces in the horn opening. Are these later additions or an attempt at a fix?

I know I've packed a lot of questions into this post, but I'd appreciate any info you all have to share.

I'm already eyeing my next orthophonic model

Eric

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[E-M-H]

and the rest of the pictures:

Thanks again!

Eric

[mattrx]

Eric,

Congrats on the purchase. You will LOVE it once you get the cosmetics in order. I have a tone arm if you want it. Not perfect, but better than the one pictured. Try dripping a little neatsfoot oil down the arm into the piston. After a few minutes the dampers may begin to work again. Mine had a needle dropped inside it that hampered proper operation and once oiled and the needle removed, the dashpots worked very well. The wood light wood in the horn was not put there by Victor and neither were the hinges. The screws were bronze colored slotted wood screws around an inch long with a trip ring. I may have some of those as well. If you want them, I'll check.

Send me a pm if you need any help finding parts. I have lots left over from a Credenza I restored last year.

Good Luck!

Matt

[E-M-H]

Eric,

Congrats on the purchase. You will LOVE it once you get the cosmetics in order. I have a tone arm if you want it. Not perfect, but better than the one pictured. Try dripping a little neatsfoot oil down the arm into the piston. After a few minutes the dampers may begin to work again. Mine had a needle dropped inside it that hampered proper operation and once oiled and the needle removed, the dashpots worked very well. The wood light wood in the horn was not put there by Victor and neither were the hinges. The screws were bronze colored slotted wood screws around an inch long with a trip ring. I may have some of those as well. If you want them, I'll check.

Send me a pm if you need any help finding parts. I have lots left over from a Credenza I restored last year.

Good Luck!

Matt

Thanks Matt, that's awesome! I'll send a PM for sure. Thanks for letting me know about the wood bracing. I'd love to take them off, but I have no clue what they're there to fix...my luck would be that I'd take them off and the horn would collapse.

I'll revisit this thread and update with pics in the future.

Eric

[E-M-H]

Forgot to include these in the original post. Who doesn't like pictures?

[Torjazzer]

You have a very nice machine. It is said that, in the 1920s, if you had a Rolls Royce in the driveway, there was a Credenza in the living room.
We'll probably never know why those extra pieces of wood are there or why the grille is hinged; addition record storage?
The hinged access might actually be a blessing in disguise as you will need access to the horn to do some maintenance.

The top piece of wood has screws which now pierce the sound chamber. When you remove the screws, you will have to plug those holes as it is essential that the system is air tight from reproducer to horn's exit.
Here is a pic of the sound chamber:
http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/faculty ... de-web.gif

Next, it is a good idea to oil the horn. I won't go into the details as Tim Gracyk's page has an excellent article on this:
http://www.gracyk.com/credenza.shtml

The original screws were a dark brown; obviously camouflaged to be invisible against the wood. These screws were VERY soft and easily burred when plied with an incorrectly sized screwdriver.
The really good news is that you have the original grille cloth. It's very difficult to find a replacement and most machines found in the wild have theirs either badly torn or replaced with something highly inappropriate. Be very careful with it, though. It will tear if you look at it the wrong way!
Good luck with your new passion.

[downsouth]

I bet some gangster owned it and he kept his favorite six shooters and tommyguns hidden away concealed in one of Victors finest. Just a thought.

Wes

[bbphonoguy]

I bet some gangster owned it and he kept his favorite six shooters and tommyguns hidden away concealed in one of Victors finest. Just a thought.

......or possibly it made a nice place to store your bootleg hooch.

[E-M-H]

I bet some gangster owned it and he kept his favorite six shooters and tommyguns hidden away concealed in one of Victors finest. Just a thought.

......or possibly it made a nice place to store your bootleg hooch.

I never thought about that; I can just imagine a bottle of whiskey resting on that top ledge

Thanks Torjazzer for the information about the screws and filling the holes in the horn...and yes, being careful around that fabric.

I had read the article that talks about sealing any cracks, but obviously you don't anticipate holes! He references a wood sealant for the cracks....I'm assuming this would work for the holes as well. Is this just wood putty? Any specific recommendations?

Thanks again,

Eric

[E-M-H]

Removed the "enhancements" to the horn and wiped down with a slightly damp cloth....a LOT of dirt in there. Next will be removing the hinges and installing some proper screws. Still looking for specific products to use seal the screw holes in the horn and other leaks found.

Thanks!

Eric